Rifle stock

ABSTRACT

A rifle stock has an elongated base having a forward end configured to connect to a rifle, the base having an elongated upper rail portion and an elongated lower rail portion, a cheek piece having an upper cheek rest surface and a cheek rail clamp below the upper cheek rest surface, the cheek rail clamp configured to connect to the elongated upper rail portion at a selected one of a plurality of alternative positions along the length of the elongated upper rail portion, a butt portion having a rear-facing butt pad rearward of the base and a butt portion clamp forward of the rear-facing butt pad, and the butt portion clamp configured to connect to the elongated lower rail portion at a selected one of a plurality of alternative positions along the length of the elongated lower rail portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/158,992 filed on Mar. 10, 2021, entitled “MODULAR BUTTSTOCK,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all that is taught and disclosed therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to firearms, and more particularly to a rifle stock that enables the rifle's length of pull and cheek rest position to be adjusted independently using modular components.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Rifle stocks provide many advantages to the user when they are installed on a rifle. Rifle stocks enable the shooter to brace the firearm with their shoulder, which provides a stable firing platform to increase accuracy and absorb recoil forces. The length of the stock establishes the rifle's length of pull, which is the distance from the rear end of the stock to the shooter's trigger finger when resting on the rifle's trigger. Many rifles are manufactured with stocks having a standard length of pull of 13.5 inch, which is believed to fit most shooters. However, this length of pull is not suitable for all shooters. An improper length of pull can prevent the shooter from assuming proper body position when shooting, potentially harming the rifle's accuracy. A rifle with a length of pull that is too long or too short can result in the shooter creating undesirable lateral movement of the rifle when pulling the trigger. The shooter may have to assume an uncomfortable body position to compensate, which increases fatigue.

Although prior art rifle stocks with adjustable length of pull exist, they have significant limitations. These can include only allowing a fixed relationship between the cheek rest and butt pad, only allowing a fixed relationship between the cheek rest and the action, or only allowing adjustments to the rifle stock with the use of tools. These existing rifle stock designs force the end user to adapt to the rifle they are shooting instead of adapting the rifle to their shooting preferences. These existing rifle stocks can also have a very limited length of pull adjustment range that is insufficient to meet the end user's needs. The use of modular components enables all of the components to be changed out for a different end use.

Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved rifle stock that enables the rifle's length of pull and cheek rest position to be adjusted independently using modular components. In this regard, the various embodiments of the present invention substantially fulfill at least some of these needs. In this respect, the rifle stock according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of enabling the rifle's length of pull and cheek rest position to be adjusted independently using modular components.

The present invention provides an improved rifle stock, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an improved rifle stock that has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned above.

To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present invention essentially comprises an elongated base having a forward end configured to connect to a rifle, the base having an elongated upper rail portion and an elongated lower rail portion, a cheek piece having an upper cheek rest surface and a cheek rail clamp below the upper cheek rest surface, the cheek rail clamp configured to connect to the elongated upper rail portion at a selected one of a plurality of alternative positions along the length of the elongated upper rail portion, a butt portion having a rear-facing butt pad rearward of the base and a butt portion clamp forward of the rear-facing butt pad, and the butt portion clamp configured to connect to the elongated lower rail portion at a selected one of a plurality of alternative positions along the length of the elongated lower rail portion. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a right side view of the current embodiment of a rifle stock constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention in use attached to a rifle. The dashed lines show extended positions of the butt portion and cheek piece.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the butt portion of FIG. 1 detached from the rifle.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the cheek piece of FIG. 1 detached from the rifle.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged right side view of the rifle stock of FIG. 1 detached from the rifle.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of the rifle stock of FIG. 1 taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the rifle stock of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

FIGS. 1, 4 & 5 illustrate the improved rifle stock 10 of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates the improved butt portion 34 of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates the improved cheek piece 28 of the present invention. More particularly, FIG. 1 shows the rifle stock in use attached to a rifle 12. The rifle includes a frame 14 defining a bolt passage 16 and a barrel 18 registered with the bolt passage. The rifle stock has an elongated base 20 having a forward end 22 configured to connected to the frame of the rifle. The elongated base has an elongated upper rail portion 24 and an elongated lower rail portion 26. The cheek piece has an upper cheek rest surface 30 and a cheek rail clamp 32 below the upper cheek rest surface. The cheek rail clamp is a quick release-style clamp in the current embodiment configured to connect to the elongated upper rail portion at a selected one of a plurality of alternative positions along the length of the elongated upper rail portion. The butt portion has a rear-facing butt pad 36 rearward of the base and a butt portion clamp 38 forward of the rear-facing butt pad. The butt portion clamp is configured to connect to the elongated lower rail portion at a selected one of a plurality of alternative positions along the length of the elongated lower rail portion.

In the current embodiment, the elongated upper rail portion 24 and the elongated lower rail portion 26 are parallel to each other and have opposed dovetail cross-sections that are engaged by the cheek rail clamp 32 and butt portion clamp 38, respectively. At least one of the elongated upper and lower rail portions has an infinite range of mounting locations. Although the elongated upper rail portion is shown with an infinite range of mounting locations and the elongated lower rail portion is shown as a Picatinny-style rail with discrete mounting locations, it should be appreciated that the elongated lower rail portion can also have an infinite range of mounting locations. Infinite adjustment of the cheek rail clamp along the elongated upper rail portion is especially suitable because the cheek piece 28 is not subjected to significant recoil forces. However, a Picatinny-style rail is preferred for the elongated lower rail portion because resistance to axial movement of the butt portion 34 is critical. The butt portion must convey recoil forces resulting from discharge of the rifle 12 into the user's shoulder (not shown) via a rear-facing butt pad 36. The rear-facing butt pad 36 is connected to the butt portion by a butt plate 40. The butt plate enables the use of different butt pads, and also provides for vertical adjustability and canting of the butt pad for desired fit.

The upper and lower tick marks 42, 44 on the elongated upper and lower rail portions are measurement indicia that are not used for engagement of the cheek rail clamp 32 or the butt portion clamp 38. Preferably, the measurement indicia denote a length of pull of the rifle 12 that is associated with the location of connection of the cheek rail clamp and butt portion clamp to the elongated upper and lower rail portions. The cheek piece 28 has an adjustable height with respect to the cheek rail clamp. The cheek piece includes a pair of vertical supports 46, 48, and the elongated base 20 defines a vertically open receptacle 50 receiving the vertical supports. The vertical supports are held in place at a selected height by set screws 52, 54 that secure the vertical supports to the cheek rail clamp 32.

The elongated base 20 has a mounting facility 56 configured to connect to the frame 14 of the rifle 12. The mounting facility can be attached to any frame that accepts standard threads for an AR-style buttstock. The mounting facility can also be altered for use with an AR-style rifle by changing the mounting facility to a buffer tube-style design and altering the cheek piece. Side weights 58, 60 are optionally added to the butt portion 34 as desired to help balance the rifle and reduce recoil.

In the context of the specification, the terms “rear” and “rearward,” and “front” and “forward,” have the following definitions: “rear” or “rearward” means in the direction away from the muzzle of the firearm while “front” or “forward” means it is in the direction towards the muzzle of the firearm.

While a current embodiment of a rifle stock has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Although rifles have been disclosed, the rifle stock is also suitable for use with shotguns, light and medium machine guns, and other firearms. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A rifle stock comprising: an elongated base having a forward end configured to connect to a rifle; the elongated base having an elongated upper rail portion and an elongated lower rail portion; a cheek piece having an upper cheek rest surface and a cheek rail clamp below the upper cheek rest surface; the cheek rail clamp configured to connect to the elongated upper rail portion at a selected one of a plurality of alternative positions along the length of the elongated upper rail portion; a butt portion having a rear-facing butt pad rearward of the base and a butt portion clamp forward of the rear-facing butt pad; and the butt portion clamp configured to connect to the lower rail portion at a selected one of a plurality of alternative positions along the length of the elongated lower rail portion.
 2. The rifle stock of claim 1 wherein the elongated upper rail portion and the elongated lower rail portion are parallel to each other.
 3. The rifle stock of claim 1 wherein at least one of the elongated upper and lower rail portions has an infinite range of mounting locations.
 4. The rifle stock of claim 1 wherein the cheek piece has an adjustable height with respect to the cheek rail clamp.
 5. The rifle stock of claim 4 wherein the cheek piece includes a vertical support, and the elongated base defines a vertically open receptacle receiving the vertical support.
 6. The rifle stock of claim 1 including a barrel connected to the receiver and registered with the base.
 7. A rifle comprising: a frame defining a bolt passage; a barrel registered with the bolt passage, an elongated base having a forward end connected to the frame; the elongated base having an elongated upper rail portion and an elongated lower rail portion; a cheek piece having an upper cheek rest surface and a cheek rail clamp below the upper cheek rest surface; the cheek rail clamp configured to connect to the elongated upper rail portion at a selected one of a plurality of alternative positions along the length of the elongated upper rail portion; a butt portion having a rear-facing butt pad rearward of the base and a butt portion clamp forward of the rear-facing butt pad; the butt portion clamp configured to connect to the elongated lower rail portion at a selected one of a plurality of alternative positions along the length of the elongated lower rail portion.
 8. The rifle of claim 7 wherein the elongated upper rail portion and the elongated lower rail portion are parallel to each other.
 9. The rifle of claim 7 wherein at least one of the elongated upper and lower rail portions has an infinite range of mounting locations.
 10. The rifle of claim 7 wherein the cheek piece has an adjustable height with respect to the cheek rail clamp.
 11. The rifle of claim 10 wherein the cheek piece includes a vertical support, and the elongated base defines a vertically open receptacle receiving the vertical support. 